Tweddle Group Technologies in conjunction with Toyota Motor Sales (US) has developed a series of mobile apps for the new Toyota Rav4 EV (shown at the LA Auto Show), including apps that locate charging stations, control in-car climate from a smartphone, and help find the vehicle in crowded parking lots.

The new EV apps move beyond the base five and information applications currently seen in the Toyota Entune infotainment system, also built on the Tweddle Connect platform. Current offering includes Movie Tickets, Open Table, Bing, Pandora and iHeartRadio apps as well as services including traffic, weather, stocks and sports. The EV-specific apps offer a more connected experience for eco-savvy drivers and include:

Charge Management - Allows drivers to monitor the charge state of the vehicle as well as invoke a charge cycle remotely at any time in which the vehicle is plugged in at a charging station.

Charging Station Map – Provides drivers a map to find charging stations, sorted by price, distance and availability. This application also navigates the driver to the charging station easily from both the mobile handset and the vehicle head unit.

ECO Dashboard – Integrates with a social network to deliver real-time assessment of the driver’s vehicle operation including ECO driving score, fuel economy and efficiency.

Plug-in Reminder – Utilizes geo-fencing to send alerts if the vehicle is not plugged in to a charging station when turned off (available only in the RAV4 EV).

Remote Climate – Enables the driver to manage the car’s climate from the mobile handset to ensure a comfortable temperature before entering the vehicle.

“Our new EV apps enable drivers to interact on a new level with their vehicle,” said Paul Sciame, general manager at Tweddle Group. “Both consumers and automakers are looking for compelling solutions for connecting mobile apps with the in-car driving experience and our platform makes that possible.”